Montclair resident Christopher Matthews is a professor of anthropology at Montclair State University. As part of the town-wide observation of Montclair’s 150th anniversary this April, he is training students in his historical archaeology class to record the oral histories of community elders for a project called “Many Voices of Montclair.”

His interest in anthropology dates back to his undergrad days.

Though Matthews earned a Ph.D. in anthropology from Columbia University, he discovered his passion for the subject at George Washington University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in 1989. “As an undergraduate, I took a course in physical anthropology, which is about human origins, and I thought, ‘Wow, that was interesting,’” he says.

He has partnered with the Montclair history center before.

In 2013, Matthews helped students conduct a dig in the back of MHC’s Orange Road property. They found a few notable artifacts, including a snuff box and a bale seal (used when shipping commodities).

He's not the only educator in his family.

Matthews’ wife, Zoe Burkholder, joined the MSU faculty first, eight years ago. She is an associate professor in the Educational Foundations department at Montclair State.

Edgemont Park(Photo: Adam Anik, North Jersey Media Group Staff P)

Matthews has been recognized for research into topics both small and large.

He won an ArtPlace America Grant for his work on a project called “Unearthing the Future: the Art of Reverse Archaeology of I-280 in Orange, NJ.” He also received an award for summer field research from the Society for the Preservation of Long Island Antiques. But he has investigated much broader topics, too. The New York Council for the Humanities gave him a mini grant for the study of The Archaeology of Slavery and Freedom, and a major grant to research The Archaeology of Captivity and Freedom.

He sees the Montclair of the past on his way to work.

When Matthews drives north from his home on Grove Street, he spots architecture dating back to the early years of the township. “When you look out, you see that every fourth or fifth house is an old farmhouse,” he says. He cites the Hinck house, owned by the Hinck family, who were prominent in the mid-to-late 19th century. He also points to the Van Reyper-Bond House, which dates to the 1870s and is located on the campus of Montclair State.

The Montclair History Center will be conducting oral histories of people who grew up and/or lived in Montclair prior to 1960 at the following times and locations: Friday, March 23, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., at the Montclair Fire Department Community Room (1 Pine Street); Friday, April 6, 1-4 p.m. at First House (56 Walnut Street); and Saturday, April 21, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., at the Montclair Fire Department Community Room (1 Pine Street).